Emily Frenzen, is a senior Agricultural Environmental Sciences Communication major in the Engler Entrepreneurship program. Through the program, Frenzen has created her own photography business, Stella Imaging, named after her grandmother.

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 “She gave me my first collection of old cameras I have…the values I have in my business really relate to who she was as a person, and I’ve always loved the name Stella,” Frenzen said.

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Having grown up on a ranch herself, Frenzen has a lot of experience photographing livestock, and does many ranch and farm photoshoots with Stella Imaging.

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 “Since I grew up on a farm it’s easier for me to capture that kind of lens because it’s something so unique and it’s something I can relate to,” Frenzen said. “I really like to capture that in action and capture the real and raw.”

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Another major area of focus for Stella Imaging is headshots for women, more specifically women in entrepreneurship.

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“I found that there is a really big need for women to find a headshot that makes them feel confident whether they’re applying for jobs or using it for a LinkedIn profile,” Frenzen said.

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Being a female entrepreneur herself, Frenzen understands first-hand the challenges that women in entrepreneurship face such as Imposter Syndrome, or doubting personal accomplishments.

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“[Imposter Syndrome] is really common for women in entrepreneurship,” Frenzen said. “I’m at the point where I could make it [photography] a full-time gig if I wanted to, and be financially stable off of that income, but I still have some people who are like ‘oh that fun little photography thing you do?’”

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However Frenzen believes that being surrounded by supportive individuals in the Engler program, who are going through similar experiences, has helped her learn how to take ownership of her achievements.

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“I think taking myself seriously so that others take me seriously was the hardest part for me, and I’ve gotten a lot better at that and being super confident in what I do and just owning it more, because for me it [photography] is so much more than just a side hustle or hobby,” Frenzen said.

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Along with helping Frenzen deal with Imposter Syndrome, the Engler program has also helped her learn how to handle the more business side of Stella Imaging.

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“In a class I took, EAEP 388, I had to really define what I did. I had to make a mission statement and vision statement…that class is ultimately where I had to define packages I would offer as well… I am organized but I am not a type A personality at all, so that was a big thing for me for sure.”

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From the creative side to the business side, Frenzen has fallen in love with her business, and pulls motivation and inspiration from her clients each session.

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“It is the best thing ever when a client, specifically a woman, says ‘You made me feel so good, I feel so confident, I love this picture of me’,” Frenzen said. “I love hearing someone say ‘I love this picture of me’ because people don’t always say that, and we should. Yeah you look good, and you should own it,” Frenzen said.